Which of the following is a correct definition of a composite number?

Which of the following is a correct definition of a composite number?

• A. A whole number greater than 1 that has more than two factors.
• B. A prime number.
• C. A number with exactly two factors.
• D. A number less than 1.

Answer: (A)

Composite numbers are positive integers greater than one that have more than two positive divisors. In other words, they can be divided evenly by numbers other than 1 and themselves. For example, 4 has factors 1, 2, and 4, and 6 has factors 1, 2, 3, and 6. This means they’re not prime, which have exactly two factors (1 and the number itself). The statement that best fits this idea is a whole number greater than 1 that has more than two factors. Numbers less than 1 aren’t considered in this category, and a number with exactly two factors is a prime.

Composite numbers are positive integers greater than one that have more than two positive divisors. In other words, they can be divided evenly by numbers other than 1 and themselves. For example, 4 has factors 1, 2, and 4, and 6 has factors 1, 2, 3, and 6. This means they’re not prime, which have exactly two factors (1 and the number itself). The statement that best fits this idea is a whole number greater than 1 that has more than two factors. Numbers less than 1 aren’t considered in this category, and a number with exactly two factors is a prime.